Hey guys: Substack kind of blew up today. The team is sorting out the problems now, but the end result is that the platform wasn't stable enough for us to do a big live.
I'm crazy disappointed and hoping we can reschedule HCR soon.
What worries me the most about the Trump Domination Regime is the expanding crony capitalism that is growing, in the shadows, behind the law-breaking Cruelty headlines.
As monopolies expand, the free market shrinks. Once we are all reliant upon monopolies for basic food, shelter, and healthcare, we will all be regarded as only as targets for rent extraction. Once we are too old to work, we will be discarded.
I live in Florida. I've watched in horror as our radical Governor works toward ruling every aspect of society, all while showering his wealthy friends (again, in the shadows) with government contracts and carve-outs from the law.
Trump and his buddies are doing the same thing to the entire country. And with the boot-licking Supremes in his corner, I think the next two elections will determine the fate of our country.
Ironically, expanding the crony capitalism could destroy capitalism itself. As Trump steadily hacks away at the rule of law, he puts the legal system that corporations depend on for their existence in jeopardy. Corporations are legal constructs. They exist only on paper and do not occur in nature. The paper they exist on only has value because the state, with its monopoly on the use of legitimate and sanctioned violence, says so. Without a functional rule of law that tells people how to behave and has penalties for not behaving the way the law says, then the charters of all corporations are at risk of not being worth the paper they're printed on.
I mean, sure, there's anarcho-capitalism, but all that is, is a more "edgy" form of feudalism, because without a state with its violence monopoly, the burden of enforcing everything, from contracts with vendors, to its own corporate charter, is shifted onto the corporations themselves.
In high school civics we were told that the states were laboratories of democracy. Those of us living under the DeSantis regime in the "Free State of Florida" have seen our state become the laboratory of 21st Century Nationalist Socialism.
That's great, JVL, I had an important meeting and I don't think I can do Substack Live without a smartphone anyway.
At this point almost all of the movement conservatives have bent the knee to Trump so movement conservatism cannot be anything that isn't in Trump's personality or inclinations even if you have people like Oren Cass that independently believe the things they do. So if Trump wants to focus his presidency on punishing his enemies and all the institutions that were against him because they were loyal to any political or cultural order that has room for minority rights then that is what movement conservatives and certainly right-wing influencers who only care about engagement will do. Also the theme that *liberals* are intent on domination and running especially Christian conservatives out of public life so you have to do it to them first is out there. I was thinking that Rick Perlstein argued that Reagan became popular because he insisted on American innocence but Trump has encouraged his followers to say, "We are guilty but so what?" One right-wing influencer cited by Noah Smith would admit that Booker T. Washington was a real American and this view of the world may be what they want to conserve. You look around at the world and you know that some people are guilty but if everyone is involved in building a world where everyone can prosper you can ignore that. You can even ignore that some people don't have the same political rights as others.
Such a pity! I was very looking forward to the conversation. But then, it's better to postpone if there might have been technical issues. We have a saying in German, "Aufgeschoben ist nicht aufgehoben", which translates to "Postponed is not canceled" :-). I'll read the Triad now.
No, JVL, you are definitely not more disappointed than I am. I was looking forward to listening in while I work. Now I just have to do the work part. I hope you are able to reschedule soon!
JVL + Heather Cox Richardson is postponed!
Hey guys: Substack kind of blew up today. The team is sorting out the problems now, but the end result is that the platform wasn't stable enough for us to do a big live.
I'm crazy disappointed and hoping we can reschedule HCR soon.
Will watch it whenever it happens
Not good but good because I forgot to set my alarm for 3am! Looking forward to your conversation with HCR whenever it may be :)
Every time I see HCR I think "House Continuing Resolution." I guess that's a DC problem.
YES, "Domination" is the goal.
What worries me the most about the Trump Domination Regime is the expanding crony capitalism that is growing, in the shadows, behind the law-breaking Cruelty headlines.
As monopolies expand, the free market shrinks. Once we are all reliant upon monopolies for basic food, shelter, and healthcare, we will all be regarded as only as targets for rent extraction. Once we are too old to work, we will be discarded.
I live in Florida. I've watched in horror as our radical Governor works toward ruling every aspect of society, all while showering his wealthy friends (again, in the shadows) with government contracts and carve-outs from the law.
Trump and his buddies are doing the same thing to the entire country. And with the boot-licking Supremes in his corner, I think the next two elections will determine the fate of our country.
Ironically, expanding the crony capitalism could destroy capitalism itself. As Trump steadily hacks away at the rule of law, he puts the legal system that corporations depend on for their existence in jeopardy. Corporations are legal constructs. They exist only on paper and do not occur in nature. The paper they exist on only has value because the state, with its monopoly on the use of legitimate and sanctioned violence, says so. Without a functional rule of law that tells people how to behave and has penalties for not behaving the way the law says, then the charters of all corporations are at risk of not being worth the paper they're printed on.
I mean, sure, there's anarcho-capitalism, but all that is, is a more "edgy" form of feudalism, because without a state with its violence monopoly, the burden of enforcing everything, from contracts with vendors, to its own corporate charter, is shifted onto the corporations themselves.
Money + Religion (real or not) + an ambitious politician = the holy trifecta of American politics
Lets hope our fate wasn't already determined by the last election.
I think it was. Why else would Republicans act like they will never face another free and fair election---and trying to take actions so they never do?
I agree with you.
In high school civics we were told that the states were laboratories of democracy. Those of us living under the DeSantis regime in the "Free State of Florida" have seen our state become the laboratory of 21st Century Nationalist Socialism.
Wow! I hope so-- this is a much needed conversation!
on the bright side, I'm glad I didn't miss it?
Thank you for the explanation. I was worried about you and HCR, two of my favorite commentators.
That's great, JVL, I had an important meeting and I don't think I can do Substack Live without a smartphone anyway.
At this point almost all of the movement conservatives have bent the knee to Trump so movement conservatism cannot be anything that isn't in Trump's personality or inclinations even if you have people like Oren Cass that independently believe the things they do. So if Trump wants to focus his presidency on punishing his enemies and all the institutions that were against him because they were loyal to any political or cultural order that has room for minority rights then that is what movement conservatives and certainly right-wing influencers who only care about engagement will do. Also the theme that *liberals* are intent on domination and running especially Christian conservatives out of public life so you have to do it to them first is out there. I was thinking that Rick Perlstein argued that Reagan became popular because he insisted on American innocence but Trump has encouraged his followers to say, "We are guilty but so what?" One right-wing influencer cited by Noah Smith would admit that Booker T. Washington was a real American and this view of the world may be what they want to conserve. You look around at the world and you know that some people are guilty but if everyone is involved in building a world where everyone can prosper you can ignore that. You can even ignore that some people don't have the same political rights as others.
You can watch on your computer! Just paste the link into your browser.
What happened to Substack, JVL? I have noticed that it sometimes struggles with live streams. Was it an app update or something?
I’m glad to hear this will be rescheduled. The topic is fantastic.
Can you just do wrestling talk with Cillizza?
This should be more than a comment in your last post.
I hope they fix all their video issues. The last android update was a step backwards in terms of functionality.
Such a pity! I was very looking forward to the conversation. But then, it's better to postpone if there might have been technical issues. We have a saying in German, "Aufgeschoben ist nicht aufgehoben", which translates to "Postponed is not canceled" :-). I'll read the Triad now.
I wondered if it was just me with Substack problems! So I'm weirdly glad to know it was the platform. I look forward to the reschedule :)
No, JVL, you are definitely not more disappointed than I am. I was looking forward to listening in while I work. Now I just have to do the work part. I hope you are able to reschedule soon!